Völler certain of new coach after 2-1 victory against France

 

FRANKFURT – Rudi Völler has reiterated that coaching Germany to a morale-boosting 2-1 victory against France remains a one-off and that he will now continue looking for a new coach in his function as technical director.

The “Rudi, Rudi” chants in Dortmund’s stadium were audible signs of his immense popularity, and he got the match plan right together with Hannes Wolf and Sandro Wagner to help the beleaguered team end a run of five games without success.

Völler, a World Cup winner as a player in 1990 and finalist as a coach in 2002, returned to the helm after Sunday’s sacking of Hansi Flick, helping out just as in the function of technical director which he became after last year’s World Cup group stage exit.

But he made it clear he would not continue as coach until next year’s home Euros or even beyond.

“It was very exhausting. The last days were stressful,” he said. “It is not about that one game, I can handle that. The whole package has been very exchausting.”

What Völler managed was to give the team a much needed defensive stability which could also show the new coach which areas he must address in the future.

“We wanted a relatively easy structure,” goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said.

An early goal from veteran Thomas Müller helped sooth Germany’s nerves, and a late second from the lively Leroy Sane clinched the affair before Antoine Griezmann pulled one back shortly before the final whistle.

Müller spoke of an “emotional act of release” and Ter Stegen of “balm for the soul, for us and for the fans.”

Völler said: “We played really good football in the first half hour. Then it got a little hectic. But we fought. It was not so much about the result but the manner of doing it.”

Kicker sports magazine said on Wednesday while the victory was no full turnaround the game showed that the team can be resilient and that “more is possible with this team than what it had shown previously.”

Völler will now continue talks with DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and German Football League supervisory board chief Hans-Joachim Watzke on who will become the new coach.

He said the “ideal scenario” would be to have the new person in place for October friendlies against the United States and Mexico.

“It doesn’t make sense to discuss names. It is important that the national team coach speaks German. That is the basis. And he must be an absolute top man,” Völler said.

Former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has been frequently mentioned as a contender, and Bayern’s Sane said he would welcome being reunited with the coach.

“Julian is definitely a good coach, and a good person as well. Let’s see what happens. Whether he is keen. Of course it would be nice to see him again and work with him,” Sane said.